Eugenious

Really? A Volkswagen camper-van is a minivan? Okay, “unibody construction,” “V6 engine,” “I read too much Car and Driver.” I understand data; I am a trained scientist under the façade of diaper bags and dirty dishes, but would you call these vehicles minivans?

There are vans, there are minivans, then there are Volkswagens. I suppose VW vans have always occupied a separate category in my brain’s filing system, whether they have pop-tops or not. I don’t claim to be a car aficionado, and I suppose VW vans, even if their tops pop to reveal sleeping space, might be categorized as minivans (if your world is black and white). But let’s look at another picture, more evidence for you. Would you say this interior is in a minivan? Or would you instead say the vehicle is more like a “mini RV”?

All mini-vans have tables and cabinets and curtains, right?

I realized that in making a big deal out of this, I must be somehow admitting that “The Analyst” is right, that this is a minivan. But I sort of have a lot riding on this: I have been known to say that I’ll never drive a minivan. Chris has, more than once, admonished, “Never say never.” And you might know that I don’t like being wrong (but I often am).

For me, this argument comes down to intention. I intended to buy a camper. The main reasons we got this van are:

1. We live in Oregon, and we like to camp. We had a very soggy experience in the Wallowas last June, while camping in tents out of our diminutive vehicle with a 3-year-old and a baby. It was less than pleasant. That planted the seed.
2. Chris, the man who never wants anything other than used books for Christmas, said, “I’ve wanted a camper-van since I was seven.”

Additional supporting arguments in favor of a larger vehicle included:

1. I would like to go for a hike with another parent and his or her kids without having to caravan two hours to get there. Wouldn’t company be nice?
2. After setting up appointments to buy trees last fall, I canceled because I couldn’t manage to find a time when: I wouldn’t have the kids, the nursery was open, and I had someone else’s pick-up truck that would fit the trees. Now, the kids AND the trees will fit in the van. It will be nice to occasionally have a little cargo space.
3. When our parents visit, we either have to rent an extra or bigger vehicle or decide not to go anywhere beyond walking distance. I’m glad my parents like the coffee shop around the corner.

I understand that these last three arguments also support buying a minivan, but we didn’t need a minivan – or even a second vehicle, really. We wanted a camper with some nice side benefits. I feel guilty tooling around town in my 40 mpg recycled cooking oil- and canola-powered car. It’s still a car. I don’t intend to pick up the groceries or the kids at soccer practice in the camper-van.

That said, if you see me in the Market of Choice parking lot with the camper, and we’re not on our way to the trailhead, you may hurl the slings and arrows.

This entry was posted in the categories Julie, outdoors, Travel by julie on Friday, 19 February 2010, 10:53. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.